Antique & Collectible Books

1861 CEYLON Natural History Sri Lanka Monkeys Elephant Illustrated Asia Tennent

James Emerson Tennent was a 19th-century British traveler who is best remembered for his appointed position as secretary of Ceylon. From his time living in Ceylon, he published a number of books which thorough describe his adventures and findings. His most notable work, simply entitled 'Ceylon', is reliable source of information regarding physical geography and natural history of Ceylon, or Sri Lanka.

This 1861 edition is an impressive, illustrated edition of Tennent's 'Ceylon' filled with full-page sketches of animals including reptiles, birds, monkeys, and an interesting view of an elephant capture!
Item number: #9570
Price: $499
TENNENT, James Emerson
Sketches of the natural history of Ceylon : with narratives and anecdotes : Illustrative of the Habits and Instincts of the mammalia, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, &c. including a monograph of the elephant.
London : Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1861.… Read More

1664 Gregorio Leti Court of ROME Catholic Church Papacy BANNED Sestini de Camera

Gregorio Leti was a notable 17th-century Italian historian who is known for having each of his published works placed on the 'Prohibited Books Index'. These works were mostly a satirical approach to the Catholic Church and included his perspective on the magistrates and rites of the Court of Rome and the Catholic Church. This 1664 edition of 'Relatione della Corte di Roma' was published alongside Francesco Sestini's "Il Maestro di Camera"; both works include the edits of Girolamo Lundoro!
Item number: #12617
Price: $599
LETI, Gregorio
Relatione della corte di Roma, e de' riti da osseruarsi in essa, e de' suoi magistrati, & officij, con la loro distinta giurisdittione del signor cau. Girolamo Lunadoro accresciuta e corretta in più luoghi
[Roma] : Per Biagio Diuersino, e Felice Cesaretti librari alla Regina ; In Roma : Nella stamperia di Fabio de Falco, 1664.

Bound with

SESTINI, Francesco
Il maestro di camera : di… Read More

1880 Geoffrey CHAUCER Poems Canterbury Tales Assembly of Foules Aldine Poets 6v

"If gold rusts, what then can iron do?"
― Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales
'The Canterbury Tales' is one of the most famous pieces of early English literature, written during the end of the 14th-century. Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, this book is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of traveling pilgrims on their way to Canterbury from London. Chaucer paints an accurate portrayal of English society during the time, as well as customs and social practices.
This late 19th-century printing of the poems of Chaucer includes, of course, 'Canterbury Tales', but also features works such as 'Cuckow and Nightgale', 'Assembly of Foules', and other lesser-known poems. This set from the 'Aldine Edition of the British Poets' was collected and edited by Richard Morris, supplemented with a memoir by Harris Nicolas.
Item number: #15239
Price: $550
CHAUCER, Geoffrey
Aldine Edition of the British Poets: The… Read More

London: Johannes Pine, 1733. [1733-1737]. Two volumes, large octavo, pp [15], 264; [20], 191, [15], light occasional foxing, otherwise clean and sound internally, in a fine later Victorian binding by Francis Bedford, red crushed morocco, covers with triple lines, ornate gilt decorated spines, inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, very slightly marked, very slight rubbing, the spines a little faded. A beautiful set of "Pines Horace ". There are two states of this edition - this is the first issue, which seems to be scarcer. It is identified by the misprint 'post est' in the medallion of Caesar on p. 108 in Volume II. [John Pine (1690-1756) was an English designer, engraver, and cartographer notable for his artistic contribution to the Augustan style and Newtonian scientific paradigm that flourished during the British Enlightenment. PRINTING AND THE MIND OF MAN 620: "This edition of Horace was printed wholly from copper plates engraved by John Pine. The text was… Read More

1570 Valerius Maximus Dictorum Factorum ROME Tiberius Scipio Latin Vellum
A rare printing of Valerius's "Dictorum et Factorum" or Historical Anecdotes. This work is a collection of short stories, sayings, and phrases, memorial to Tiberius Caesar, who was reigning during Valerius' lifetime. These anecdotes depict ancient Greek life and philosophy as well as famous kings and Caesars. Many modern historians claim that Valerius's work was taken from Cicero, Livy, and Sallust, as well as other ancient historians and philosophers, rather than creating original works.
However, many of the topics he writes about were controversial and unusual for the time – he wrote on homosexuality within the Roman army and the aristocracy of ancient Greece. While homosexually itself was written on, it was only considered tolerable in a 'master-slave' relationship; not within a public and high status sense. Other topics include omens, revenge, superstitious cults, women lawyers, modesty, crimes, and conflicting political… Read More

1764 Electricity Letters by Nollet Ben Franklin Attacks Science Experiments 2v

Jean-Antoine Nollet was an 18th-century French physicist who made incredible contributions to world of physical science. Perhaps his best work came with from his experiments with electricity and his displays of static electricity. In his myriad of letters on electricity, Nollet describes his process and studies with electricity, but his letters on electricity are certainly most famous for attacking Benjamin Franklin's electricity research. In fact, it is thought that these letters were responsible for separating electricity scientists into 'Franklinists' and 'anti-Franklinists' (Priestly)
This 1764 two-volume edition of Nollet's "Electricity Letters" contains all of his criticism of Franklin, published in Paris by Guerin and Delatour.
Item number: #20624
Price: $750
NOLLET, Jean Antoine
Recherches sur les causes particulières des phénoménes électriques; et fur les effects nuifibles ou avantageux qu'on peut en… Read More

1883 Charles Spurgeon Flashes of Thought Christian Bible Sermons Puritan Baptist

"Flashes of Thought" is a collection of 1000 choice extracts from the works of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, renowned 19th-century preacher, and teacher of the Bible. The extracts are arranged alphabetically and indexed for easy reference. The book contains original and carefully selected passages that can be used for meditation and reflection. None of the passages have been published in any other volume of extracts.

Often referred to as the "Prince of Preachers," Charles H. Spurgeon displayed unique talent as an orator and was equally respected as a gifted teacher of the Bible. His coveted sermons and published works are still used today in Biblical research, study, and personal meditation.

Item number: #40779
Price: $499

SPURGEON, C.H.

Flashes of Thought; Being One Thousand Choice Extracts From the Works of C.H. Spurgeon. Alphabetically Arranged, and With a Copious Index.

London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1883.… Read More

1576 HORACE Roman Literature FAMED Venice ed Poliziano Aldo Manutius Acron RARE

"We are but dust and shadow."
― Horace

Horace was the most important Roman poet during the 1st-century BC. He composed satires, odes, epistles, and other poetic verses; works that have been referenced and studied for centuries. Horace's works have yielded some famous quotes that have influenced cultures and societies including "Carpe Diem!" (seize the day) and "Pactum serva" (keep the faith).

This late 16th-century Bonelli edition of the works of Horace was edited with contributions from numerous authors including Poliziano, Aldo Manutius, Francesco Robortello, Nicolai Perotti, Marco Sabellico, and many others. And while the works of Horace from this era are considered rare, this edition which includes the 3rd-century commentary of Helenius Acron, is of the utmost desirability.

Item number: #22758
Price: $750

HORACE

Q. Horatij Flacii poetae Venusini, Omnia poemata cum ratione carminum, & argumentis vbique insertis,… Read More

1667 ENGLISH Simon Patrick Mensa Mystica Eucharist Baptism Aqua Genitalis 2in1
Simon Patrick was a 17th-century English Bishop known for his anti-Catholic tracts and Protestant political affiliation. In his most famous book, 'Mensa Mystica', Patrick covers various aspects of Catholicism that he staunchly disagrees with, most notably the sacraments of the Eucharist. This 1667 edition of 'Mystica' was published alongside Patrick's attack on Catholic baptism – 'Aqua Genitalis'.
Item number: #23570
Price: $599
PATRICK, Simon
Mensa mystica; or, A discourse concerning the sacrament of the Lords Supper: In which the ends of its institution are so manifested; our addresses to it so directed; our behaviour there, and afterward, so composed, that we may not lose the benefits which are to be received by it. The second edition; to which is annexed Aqua genitalis, a discourse concerning baptism. By Simon Patrick D.D. rector of St. Pauls Covent-Garden.
London: printed for F. Tyton, and are to be sold by Richard… Read More

1665 Saint Augustine Confessions Catholic Doctrine Predestination Bible Theology

Augustine of Hippo was a 5th-century early Christian church philosopher and theologian. While most known for his work 'City of God', he also wrote many other treatises on aspects of the Christian faith. His stance on free will vs. predestination and fatalism was supported by and still is supported by, the Catholic Church, as his teachings on free will are consistent with modern doctrine.

One of Augustine's most important works was 'Confessions' – collection of shorter treatises that were autobiographical in nature. In fact, because of this, it is often considered the very first Western autobiography ever written.

Henricus Sommalius was a 16th-century Jesuit writer who was notable for editing a number of important medieval works of eminent church fathers including Albert Magnus, Thomas a Kempis, and Saint Augustine. This 1665 edition was published in Lyon.

Item number: #23601
Price: $599

AUGUSTINE, of Hippo

D.… Read More

1781 Diderot Encyclopedia Illustrated ART of WAR Weapon Astronomy Optics Science

The Enlightenment's most-important general encyclopedia!

Through the mid-18th-century, large collections of knowledge were relegated to specific areas of study like law, medicine, or religion. However, Denis Diderot's 'Encyclopedie' changed the public's knowledge base as well as setting a standard for future generations of acquiring knowledge on many different subjects. This was the first encyclopedia to include contributions from many different named writers. It also was the first encyclopedia to describe work-related topics like agriculture, engineering, cooking, and trade.

This rare edition is exclusively engravings of the mechanical arts including nearly 100 full-page and folding engraved plates of figures. Each section of the huge engravings is paired with a table describing what it in each illustration. Images in this tome include:
· Mathematics
o Algebra, geometry, trigonometry
· Mechanics &… Read More

1860 ENORMOUS Royal Family Holy BIBLE King James Illustrated Wills Provanance

A beautiful, huge Holy Bible published in London in the 19th-century. Ornate family Bibles were quite popular in the second half of the 1800s, and this tome is a fine example of enormous, folio family Bibles. This particular Bible contains commentaries from John Stoughton.

This edition is beautifully illustrated with engraved plates of Bible scenes and notes and explanations, as well as a decorative spine and cover!

Item number: #30492
Price: $550

HOLY BIBLE

The Royal Family Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments, According to the Authorised Version: With Marginal Readings, Explanatory Notes, and Original and Selected Parallel References, Printed at Length; Introductions to Each of the Sacred Books; and an Essay on the History of the Bible, by the Rev. John Stoughton.

London: The London Printing and Publishing Company [ca. 1860].

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all pages
o Old Testament – [2],… Read More

1860 England's Battles Sea and Land Crimean Napoleonic Wars India Campaigns Navy
"England's Battles by Sea and Land" is an impressive mid-19th-century account of notable military and naval battles involving the British military. This fine set by William Freke Williams covers battles in the Crimean War, The Napoleonic Wars, and the Central Indian Campaigns in 1858. While the content of this work is important, the draw of this set is the impressive full-page illustrations of sea battles, portraits, and iconic historical scenes.
Item number: #41463
Price: $599
WILLIAMS, Lieut.-Colonel
England's Battles by Sea and Land; From the Commencement of the Great French Revolution to the Present Time: With a Retrospective View of the Celebrated Epochs of British Military History; Including Our Indian Campaigns, and the Present Expedition Against Russian Aggression in the East.
London; New York: The London Printing and Publishing Company, [ca.1860]
Details:
· Collation: Complete; 3 volumes in 2 tomes
o Tome I… Read More

London: Richard Bentley and Son, Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen, 1877. Hardcover. Very Good. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. George Cruikshank, John Leech, and John Tenniel. Quarto. xiv, 514 pages. Hardcover bound in decorative full green morocco with cover designs embossed in gilt. The spine and the edges of the boards are faded to brown. There are a few dark spots about the edges of the binding. Raised bands with 6 compartments on the spine with decorative gilt stamping in the compartments of ravens, a helmet and another design. The front and rear boards also have decorative gilt stamping showing ravens, etc. All edges gilt. The binding is rubbed and bumped at the corners. Hinges secure. Marbled endpapers. The flyleaves are foxed. The text is a bit toned but is generally clean. Illustrated throughout. A very attractive edition. A collection of poems and other writings based on earlier legends, including a number of stories based on witches, ghosts, the Devil, etc.

Green calf spine with gilt title and decoration. Green marbled boards.